Where Power Sleeps

Chapter 5: The Source Above

Darian

I try to cover the wound on my shoulder, pressing it down like it will make it hurt any less. It makes it a thousand times worse.

Geez… it’s just a stab in the shoulder. Why does it feel like the sun itself is being forced on it? Of all people, I should know what real physical pain feels like — but this is something else…

Arial rushes to me with tears in her eyes, “Darian! Are you alright?”

This girl is way too kind for her own good. Look at her crying over a stranger she met a while ago.

I manage a smile, “This is nothing. I’m okay.”

She looks relieved, the tension in her shoulders relaxes a bit.

“Do you have a piece of cloth in your bag?” I ask, trying to sound normal.

“Yeah,” she sniffles. “I think I do.”

She opens her bag clumsily and rummages through it. Beakers, files and measuring instruments stick out of the huge bag.

She pulls out a cloth from her bag and hands it to me carefully. I take it from her and use it to tie my wound.

Raiden keeps bugging Astrid in the background for her name.

“Come on, the lightning was really cool. Who are you? That’s something even the main character doesn’t know!” he pesters endlessly while Astrid completely ignores him.

I have to admit, little lady is kind of funny in her own way. She’s probably super strong too. I can feel it. The same instinct I get when I meet someone interesting. I can’t help but be curious so I have to suppress this pain like I’ve always done.

Since I was thrown into this place, I’ve been downright bored… and hungry. How’s that even possible? It’s not even night yet but I feel like I haven’t eaten in days.

I sit down on a stone, watching the scene unfold.

Astrid floats casually and lands on a pile of leaves, yawning, “Leave me alone. I already have so many headaches with me. I don’t need an addition.”

That’s true but still hurtful…

Though, I just met her and she’s already calling me a headache? Judgemental much? And now she’s drifting off again on a pile of leaves. I can’t tell if she’s just a sleepy person or a cat.

And about her being judgemental, she reminds me of someone I know… I wonder what she’s doing now…

Averon’s stoic voice cuts me out of my thoughts, “Enough talking, really. Hey, you. What happened to the others?”

Raiden tenses up at his frosty voice, “Oh, them. We… split up a while ago…”

Averon lets out a low hum, “Hmm… I don’t need to ask why considering your obnoxiousness.”

“You took the words right out of my mouth,” Astrid mutters inaudibly in her sleep.

Raiden is a bit offended, “Okay, I get it!”

I laugh out loud, “Hahaha, even though you just met us, they already know how you are! That’s rough, man.”

Hehehe. At least something interesting is finally happening. I’m glad I met this group. They’re somewhat comical.

Averon pinches the bridge of his nose, “You guys really don’t know the magnitude of the situation we’re in. Or maybe you’re all just dumb. This is just the start of The Extermination. The tip of the iceberg. The calm before the storm. However you may phrase it. If you keep acting like this, in the end someone’s going to die. Do you really want that?”

“Of course not. Bro, relax a bit. It hasn’t even been a day ye – “

Wait a minute. How is that even possible? It feels like it’s been days but the Sun hasn’t set yet. Is time moving slow?

Averon glances at me, “I know what you’re thinking. The time isn’t moving slow.”

“If that’s not it then what’s going on?”

Raiden looks like he just understood something and falls to his knees, eyes widening, “What? I – it can’t b – be...” he stutters, his voice barely reaching a whisper.

Astrid stretches from her sleep, rubbing her eyes, “Finally someone feels it. What took you guys so long to figure it out.”

I feel like my head’s about to explode from suspense!

“What are you talking about, little lady?” I ask impatiently.

Arial looks just as confused as I am, “I also want to know.”

“You’re not a magic user so it’s normal you guys won’t feel it. The overwhelming power emitting from that thing in the sky,” she remarks.

Averon looks up at the glowing orb in the sky, “I get it now. Although it’s just a hypothesis to me, I think that’s…”

Astrid gazes up as well, “...the magic core.”